Air Zimbabwe deal is “privatisation by stealth”: MP

via Air Zimbabwe deal is “privatisation by stealth”: MP — Nehanda Radio  NOVEMBER 29, 2013  

An opposition MP has claimed that a deal entered into by struggling national carrier Air Zimbabwe amounts to “privatisation by stealth” even though the fortunes of the airline were improving.

Bulawayo South MP Eddie Cross who is a member of the public accounts committee in Parliament told the Mail and Guardian newspaper that the deal, which sees Air Zimbabwe leasing two Airbuses from the Far East, was murky.

“I have it on good authority that the Far East company is a front for diamonds firm Mbada Diamonds. What we might be witnessing is privatisation by stealth. The deal is working quite well because the services are good and the airline is back on its feet, but that deal is not transparent and has not been made public,” said Cross.

“We are waiting to review the financial statements of Air Zimbabwe in the public accounts committee, but the statements are yet to be made available. We will get them and, if there is any cause, we will have a public hearing. There have been major changes in the past six months. [The airline has] also bought an aircraft from Brazil.”

Cross commended the service Air Zimbabwe is now offering, but said the deals that are bringing it back to its feet are not transparent. Strangely Transport Minister Obert Mpofu told the same paper he did not know which company Air Zimbabwe was leasing its aircraft from.